Okay, here’s my review. This was pretty middle of the road
for this season, but probably one of the stronger episodes SNL had in January
coming right off of Christmas break. Drake was a much stronger host than I
expected him to be. Just imagine what he might have done if he were given
better material! I guess I was gradually raising my expectations for this
episode ever since hearing Jonah Hill and Melissa McCarthy would be hosting. We’ve
seen them host before and their most recent appearances felt a little too
phoned in. Drake, however, hasn’t hosted and I honestly didn’t know what I
should’ve expected from him performance wise. As I’ve said, it could’ve gone
either way and thankfully, he didn’t totally disappoint. Other than that, the
writing hasn’t shown any visible signs of improvement and they definitely
retreaded a few things too early but I do like how the new cast got quite a bit
more screen time than they have previously this season. Anyway, let’s get on
with it.
Piers Morgan VI – This wasn't the best choice for an
opening, but the cast did save it despite being given some pretty weak
material. Bobby tried his damndest to save some weak lines. Taran just played
straight man to everyone but I did like his "journalistic integrity"
line. Drake did a pretty funny Alex Rodriguez and I liked his texting/autocorrect
bit. Kate's Justin Bieber made that whole sketch. She was the last female cast
member I expected to play him which is what made it so funny. She didn't quite
look like him, but she made up for it by having his voice and "swag"
movements/mannerisms down pat…and I can already see her and SNL getting a lot
of hate tweets over this. C+
Monologue – This was better than I expected. Drake was
actually quite charismatic and not as stiff or wooden as I thought he was going
to be. The bar mitzvah sketch went on a little too long for my liking but I did
like how it made good use of Jay, Kyle and Sasheer. Drake's rap number was the
real highlight, although I do have to wonder why he would be throwing in
references to Lebron, Kimye and Rhianna if it’s supposed to be set in 1999. B-
Hip Hop Classics: Before They Were Stars - Kenan's Sway was
all right. It seemed to be the rare impression where he was actually putting
some effort into it. Other rappers starring on family shows before they were
famous seemed like a weak premise, but the performances and some of the writing
saved it. Kilam as Eminem on Felicity was brilliant. Drake did a fine job as
Lil Wayne/Urkel (that impression probably came from all the time Drake spent
hanging out with Lil Wayne) but his Jay-Z certainly didn't make me forget about
Pharoh. Kenan was also pretty good as Reginald VelJohnson and Telletubbie Rick
Ross, but we could've done without his Flava Flav Wonder Years narration.
Sasheer did a fine job as Rhianna from what little of her impression we saw,
but the fact that this is the second time in 20 years that SNL has done a
shot-for-shot virtually jokeless recreation of the opening credits to
"Blossom" is. Is actually frightening (Stooge knows what I'm talkin'
bout, yo). Beck Bennett did an okay Mr. Wizard but I couldn't help but be
reminded that this was another impression Hader successfully pulled off. I also
thought the back-and-forth between Jay/2 Chainz and Kate's Disney actress was
good. B-
Nancy Grace - Noel doesn't do Nancy Grace as well as Amy
Poehler did (she does do better with the facial impressions than her actual
voice much like seemingly every impression of hers), but kudos to her for
giving it her all (even if it was a little one note and repetitive). Kate was
also good in this and Drake did a good Katt Williams but again, he wasn't as
laugh out loud funny as Jay when he did Katt. I knew SNL would probably do
something on pot being legalized here in Colorado and I do appreciate the
Boulder shout out. I was worried this would be pretty half assed, but the cast
really saved it. C-
Resolution Revolution - This music video was okay. I liked
how it made decent use of Sasheer and the donuts/drinking/gambling/sex
toys/cosplay cutaways really saved it. I liked how they used those to break up
the monotony of the rapping at the exact right moments and it also had a good
ending. C+
Sleepover - This was another sketch that served as a very
good sketch for Aidy. Drake was okay here, but he just played a straight dorky
dad here so that role didn't call for a lot performance wise. Vanessa's
appearance at the very end was also funny and gave the sketch some decent
closure. I also like how they gave Sasheer some lines here. It wasn't much but
she is new. B-
Update was nothing to sneeze at. Seth continues to phone it
in, but Cecily can still make the most of jokes that are barely there. I was
expecting SNL to do something on Jacqueline Bisset at the Golden Globes, but I
was also expecting it to be about how spacey her speech was not how long her
walk was! Everybody had an awkwardly long walk! That was a horribly designed
stage! Plus, I thought Kate instead of Vanessa should've been playing her but
this promise of continuing the bit was more promising that it should've been.
Seth was pretty damn irritating through most of it (plus that Freud joke of his
was quite telling, wasn't it?) but at least they knew when to end it and not
let it run on too long. Nassim as Arianna Huffington was pretty damn forgettable. C-
Rahat - This Indiana Jones attraction sketch was probably
the worst live segment of the night, but I really gotta admire Drakes sheer
enthusiasm and determination to save it. Nassim probably could've been worse
here, but the awkward hug and prayer bits made me giggle. Also, Kenan's
"native" costume made me cringe just a little bit. I kept thinking
how it was such a poor choice for Sasheer Zamata's first show which happened to
be hosted by Drake. I can already see bloggers trashing the show just for this
but, oh well. D+
Detention - I can't believe they decided to recur Vanessa's
poetry teacher from the Miley Cyrus episode, but the first one had its moment.
Still, just like this one Aidy and Kenan tried to save it. Seriously though,
Kenan's "hell yeah" poem was the first genuine laugh I had all night.
Brooks and Sasheer had good lines, but too bad Brooks had to flub his. Drake
was all right, probably his only real phoned in performance of the night but I
can't really blame them for copy-and-pasting the same ending from the previous
sketch so yeah I saw his whole bit coming. I even liked Mike's lines about New
Jack City and Vanessa's character sounding like someone punching a dolphin, but
too bad he had to break a little at the very end. C-
Started From The Bottom/Hold On, We’re Going Home - Again,
it's rare that I comment on the music performances but I have to say something
about the staging choices during Drakes numbers. It is rather interesting
having him seemingly alone, barely lit and awashed in orange and blue
spotlights. It reminds me of something like Kanye would do but not nearly as
aggressively pretentious and honestly a bit more preferable. Also, I don't know
who this female singer with him is but her name sounds like it should be
familiar to me. She might've been featured on Childish Gambino's newest album.
Overall, Drake's performances were fine except for the shameless audience
pandering there at the end.
Mornin’ Miami II - I'm really surprised and a bit worried
for the show that they chose to recur TWO sketches from Miley's episode in a
row, but Mornin' Miami was actually quite good the first time. This time,
however, it feels like they may be missing a little something. This didn't
quite have the raw absurdity of the first one but it had a great ending. C+
Good Neighbor: I Know - That may have been Good Neighbors
weakest short so far this season in terms of laughs, but I did like the sharp,
fast pacing of it and the endearing ending. C-
Now, updated rankings…
1. Kerry Washington/Eminem
2. Miley Cyrus
3. Lady Gaga
4. Bruce Willis/Katy Perry
5. Tina Fey/Arcade Fire
6. Paul Rudd/One Direction
7. Drake
8. Josh Hutcherson/Haim
9. Jimmy Fallon/Justin Timberlake
10 John Goodman/Kings of Leon
11. Edward Norton/Janelle Monae
Well, that episode kicked off the New Year for SNL decently
enough. In the coming weeks, Jonah Hill and Melissa McCarthy host the show. I’ve
already said my peace on them, so…goodnight! Happy long weekend everybody!
No comments:
Post a Comment